Improved characterization of truck traffic volumes and axle loads for mechanistic-empirical pavement design : [executive summary report].
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2012-12-01
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Abstract:Traffic is one of the primary inputs in pavement design. Traditional pavement design procedures account for traffic using the equivalent single axle loads (ESAL’s) accumulated during the life of the pavement structure. This procedure is based on converting each individual axle with a specific weight and configuration into an equivalent number of standard 18-kip (80 kN) single axle loads. The equations used in this procedure are based on outdated data obtained from road tests performed over a two year time period in the late 1950’s in Ottawa, Illinois. Since these tests were carried out at a single test site, these equations may not be representative of the various environments, materials, and drainage conditions encountered at other locations. Another limitation of these equations is that testing was conducted over a two year time span, which is a relatively short period in terms of pavement design since it does not account for the effect of the environment on the performance of the pavement structure. Furthermore, the size and volume of vehicles have significantly increased over the last six decades, and therefore this procedure is not representative of current vehicle loads and pavement designs. Finally, this procedure introduces a degree of uncertainty that is difficult to quantify because it depends on the pavement type and structure, pavement condition, environmental conditions, and the failure criteria being evaluated. As a result, the use of ESAL’s can limit the accuracy of the resulting pavement design.
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